WELCOME TO
THE IGNITING THE FLAME OF UNITY
WEBSITE
“WE WUNT BE DRUV”
The motto asserts
That people from Sussex have minds of their own,
and cannot be forced against their will, or told what to do.
The Unsung Heroes of the Brighton Railway:
A Tribute to the Early Enginemen
The history of Britain's railways has been well-documented—its routes, its rolling stock, and its rapid expansion through the 19th and 20th centuries. Yet, too often overlooked are the men who powered those early locomotives: the Enginemen, the Firemen, and the Motormen, who, through sheer grit and determination, brought the Brighton railways to life.
Long before the age of high-speed trains and digital timetables, these pioneers laboured under gruelling conditions. The engines they manned were primitive and unforgiving, and the hours were punishing. Enginemen were expected to be available at any moment, day or night. Their time belonged not to them, but to the railway company that profited from their relentless work. While the spread of the railway network brought prosperity to businesses and shareholders, it brought hardship, fatigue, and exploitation to those who made the railways run.
Despite the wealth of material written about railway technology—particularly the various forms of traction used on the Brighton Railway—little has been said about those behind the controls. This website seeks to change that. It aims to shed light on the lives and struggles of the Enginemen and the Motormen, tracing their history through the Brighton Railway and the creation of the various enginemen related trade unions, such as the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (A.S.R.S), Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (A.S.L.E.&F.). Here, visitors can explore the development of local A.S.L.E.&F. branches and Motive Power depots that were once vital to the Brighton, the Southern and British Railways and their operations.
Drawing from a wide range of historical sources—including official documents and publications from both A.S.of R.S. and A.S.L.E.&F.—this site strives to preserve the voices and memories of those who lived and worked on the footplate. Wherever possible, credit is given to original sources, and we welcome corrections or concerns regarding any material presented.
Your contributions are vital. If you have photos, stories, or corrections related to life on the Brighton footplate, please share them. Every image, name, date, and location adds another piece to this rich and largely untold history.
I hope you find the site both informative and inspiring—and that you’ll consider helping it grow, ensuring that the stories of the Enginemen are finally given the recognition they deserve.
If anybody has any objections to the material that appears on this website. I will only too pleased to remove any such material from
this site.
If there is any information that is incorrect or you have had
experienced any problem whilst visiting the website, please let me
know so I can rectify them.
Having visited this website I hope you will not only enjoy seeing it
develop but perhaps also let us share any relevant pictures you have.
If you have any photos relating to this subject and you would like to
share on this website.
Please email them to me, along with any relevant info about the
photo (name(s) location and the year).
originally website started on
17th March 2010